Modularization of data center functions

ABSTRACT

In one example, a data center may be built in modular components that may be pre-manufactured and separately deployable. Each modular component may provide functionality such as server capacity, cooling capacity, fire protection, resistance to electrical failure. Some components may be added to the data center by connecting them to the center&#39;s utility spine, and others may be added by connecting them to other components. The spine itself may be a modular component, so that spine capacity can be expanded or contracted by adding or removing spine modules. The various components may implement functions that are part of standards for various levels of reliability for data centers. Thus, the reliability level that a data center meets may be increased or decreased to fit the circumstances by adding or removing components.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/292,215,filed Nov. 9, 2011, entitled “Modularization of Data Center Functions,”which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/395,556,filed Feb. 27, 2009, entitled “Modularization of Data Center Functions,”now U.S. Pat. No. 8,077,457 issued on Dec. 13, 2011.

BACKGROUND

A data center is a facility that houses computer equipment and relatedcomponents. Data centers typically include many server computers and theauxiliary equipment that is used to keep the servers running. Theservers in data centers are used to host various functions, such as webapplications, e-mail accounts, enterprise file servers, etc.

A data center is not merely a building in which servers are stored andoperated. In addition to computing and data storage resources, datacenters provide resistance to certain types of failures. A given datacenter may be expected to remain functional for some amount of time inthe event of a power failure, may be expected to operate regardless oftemperature or other weather conditions, and may be expected toimplement some level of physical security and resistance to fire ornatural disasters. There may be various other types of expectationsplaced on a data center. Thus, in addition to housing the computerequipment that performs the data center's core function of providing thecomputing resources to host applications, a data center also typicallyhouses power backup equipment (e.g., backup generators, uninterruptablepower supplies, etc.), cooling equipment, fire protection equipment,etc.

Data centers are scalable in a number of different senses. One way inwhich a data center may be scaled is to increase or decrease thecomputing capacity of the data center—e.g., by increasing or decreasingthe number of server machines at the data center. However, other typesof scalability relate to the expectations placed on the data center.Data centers may meet various different performance and reliabilitystandards—sometimes referred to as “levels”—and one sense in which adata center may be scaled is to modify the data center to meet higher orlower performance or reliability standards. For example, one level mayinvolve some amount of backup power and cooling equipment, and anotherlevel may involve a different amount of backup power and coolingequipment and, perhaps, some fire resistance or increased security thatis not present in the first level.

Data centers may be modularized and expandable. For example, aself-contained group of servers may be put in a movable container (e.g.,a shipping container or modular enclosure) along with the powerequipment, cooling equipment, etc., involved in operating those servers.These modules may be pre-fabricated and then moved to the location atwhich the data center is to be installed. If it is decided to increasethe capacity of the data center, an additional module may be added.

While it is possible to modularize data centers to increase their sizeor capacity, individual functionalities generally have not beenmodularized. In some cases, there may be reason to increase or decreasesome particular functionality of a data center—e.g., the center'sresistance to fire, power failure or adverse weather conditions.

SUMMARY

Modules may be created to implement various functionalities of a datacenter. Data centers may be created or modified by adding or removingthe modules in order to implement these functionalities. There may bemodules that contain servers, modules that contain cooling equipment,modules that contain backup generators, modules that containUninterruptable Power Supplies (UPSs), modules that contain electricaldistribution systems or modules that implement any other type (orcombination) of functionality. These modules may be combined in order tobuild a data center that meets certain expectations. There may be autility spine that connects certain types of modules to power,telecommunications cabling, cooling media such as chilled water, air,glycol, etc. One way to expand a data center's functionality is toattach additional modules (e.g., server modules) to the spine. Anotherway to expand the data center's functionality is to attach modules toother modules—e.g., a cooling module could be attached to a servermodule, in order to provide increased cooling capacity or tightertemperature/humidity control to the servers in that server module.

For example, a particular number of server modules may be chosen basedon the expected capacity of the data center. If the data center isexpected to maintain cooling within a certain temperature and humidityboundary, then cooling modules can be added. If the data center isexpected to implement a certain level of resistance to interruptions ofelectrical service, then generator modules, UPS modules and/orelectrical distribution modules may be added. If the data center isexpected to implement a certain level of resistance to interruption ofnetworking connectivity, telecommunications modules may be added.Modules may be combined in any way in order to implement any type offunctional expectations.

Similarly, if conditions change such that functionality can be removedfrom the data center, then the modules can be removed. For example, ifthe expected demand on the data center abates, then modules that containservers can be removed, thereby reducing the capacity of the datacenter. If conditions change such that it can be tolerated for the datacenter to be less resistant to power disruptions, then generator and/orUPS modules can be removed. Or, if the amount of power that the serversdraw is reduced due to technological shifts, then power components couldbe removed. In general, modularization of the various functionalities ofa data center allows a data center to be adapted continually to greateror lesser expectations regarding its functionality.

Standards that data centers are expected to meet are often quantizedinto levels. Modularization of functionality allows data centers to bemodified to satisfy the specifications of different levels. For example,in order to upgrade a data center from one level to the next, modulesthat increase the data center's resistance to fire, power disruption,temperature excursions, etc., may be added.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example module that may be used inbuilding a data center.

FIG. 2 is an elevation of an example data center, or of a portion of anexample data center.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a first example combination of data centermodules.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a second example combination of data centermodules.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a third example combination of data centermodules.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a fourth example combination of data centermodules.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a data center, with modules that are addedto the data center in various ways.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an example process in which components maybe added or removed in order to increase or decrease the functionalityof a data center.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of some example specifications for variouslevel ratings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Many types of computing are performed at data centers, which host largenumbers of fast computers and storage devices. For example, web hosting,e-mail hosting, data warehouses, etc., are implemented at data centers.The data centers typically contain large numbers of server computers andnetwork devices, which run applications to perform various functions. Inthe recent past, computing was largely a local affair, with mostfunctions being performed on a local desktop or laptop computer locatedin the same place as the computer user. With the growth of networkconnectivity, the increased use of handheld computers, and the rise ofusage models such as cloud computing, the amount of functionalityperformed at data centers has increased and, likely, will continue toincrease. With increased demands on capacity for data centers, there ispressure to be able to deploy data centers quickly, at low cost, and inways that satisfy the (possibly changing) demands being placed on thecenter.

One technology for building data centers that has drawn interest inrecent years is the pre-fabricated data center. Such a data center maybe assembled at a factory in units that may be delivered to whereverthey are to be used. For example, racks of servers could be installed ina shipping container along with cooling components, fire-protectioncomponents, etc., and the container could be delivered to the site onwhich a data center is to be built. Typically, the pre-fabrication ofdata center units allows data centers to be built to scale, but does notallow fine-grained control over the functionality of the data center.For example, if each container can provide a capacity of N, and a datacenter is to have a capacity of 5N, then five shipping containers couldbe delivered to the site at which the data center is to be built, andthe shipping containers could be connected to power utilities, datautilities, cooling equipment, etc., at a single site in order to providea data center with the intended capacity. Certain specific types ofcomponents could be added to augment functionality—e.g., coolingequipment could be added to an existing unit in order to allow the datacenter to operate in a hotter climate or at a higher power level.

However, pre-fabrication technology typically does not typically allowfunctionality to be added to the data center in a custom manner that istailored to the particular expectations that apply to a particular datacenter. For example, there may be various standards of reliability fordata centers at certain levels, and the particular level rating of adata center may be based on the data center's having certainfunctionalities. Thus, a level 2 data center might have a certain amountof resistance to fire, power failures, etc., and a level 3 data centermight have different amounts of those features. So, converting a level 2data center to a level 3 data center might involve adding more backuppower, fire protection equipment, etc., than would be present in a level2 data center.

Another issue is that the amount of scale that can be achieved withpre-fabrication technology may be limited by the size of the utilityspine that is used to provide certain services (e.g., power, data,cooling media, etc.) to individual units. Thus, a common spine might beable to support six server containers, so installation of another servercontainer might involve installing a new spine.

The subject matter described herein may be used to modularize thefunctionality of a data center. Individual functionalities (e.g., backuppower, cooling, fire protection, electrical switch gear, electricalswitch boards, electrical distribution, air-cooling, generator, UPS,chilled water central plant, cooling towers, condensers, dry coolers,evaporative cooler, telecommunications main distribution (MDF),telecommunication intermediate distribution (IDF), storage, office,receiving and/or loading dock, security, etc.) may be implemented asmodules. The modules can be combined to build a data center having acertain capacity, or having certain properties (e.g., a certain level ofresistance to power outage, fire, etc.). The utility spine that servesindividual modules may, itself, be modularized, so that the spine can bemade larger (or smaller) by adding (or removing) spine modules. In thisway, a data center can be built to have scale and functionalcapabilities appropriate to the circumstances in which the data centeris built, and the scale and capabilities can be added or removed atwill. By allowing data center builders to pick and choose the scale andfunctionality appropriate for a situation, waste that results fromexcess capacity or excess capabilities may be avoided. Additionally, themodularity of the components allows the data center to evolve even afterit has been deployed, since components may be added or removed evenafter the data center as a whole has become operational.

Additionally, with regard to reliability levels, capabilities may beadded (or removed) in order to change (e.g., increase or reduce) thereliability level at which a given data center is rated. That is, if alevel 2 data center exists and a level 3 data center is called for,modules can be added to increase the capabilities of the data center tolevel 3. If the level 3 data center is no longer called for, modules canbe removed to reduce the reliability level of the data center (and thosemodules may be installed in a different data center, thereby makingeffective re-use of existing components).

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an example module 102. In theexample of FIG. 1, module 102 is a server module, which contains racksof server machines (e.g., racks 104 and 106, as well as, possibly,additional racks that are inside the module behind its walls in the viewof FIG. 1). The server machines contained in racks 104 and 106 may beused to host various types of functionalities. For example, theseservers may host web site, E-mail servers, enterprise document servers,etc.

In addition to the servers themselves, module 102 may have various othertypes of equipment that is used in the course of operating the servers.For example, module 102 may include: cooling equipment 108 to keep theservers cool; fire protection equipment 110 with smoke detection, dryfoam, carbon dioxide gas, sprinkler, etc., to detect and/or extinguishfires; power distribution equipment 112 to distribute power to theservers; data distribution equipment 114 to connect the servers to anetwork; or any other type of equipment. (Any of the equipment mentionedabove, or other elements, could be implemented as separate modules, orany one or more of the components could be implemented together as anintegrated module.)

In one example, module 102 may take the form of a shipping container.Thus, racks of servers, and the various auxiliary equipment used in thecourse of operating those servers, may be assembled in a shippingcontainer and transported to any location in the world. However, module102 could take any form, of which a shipping container is merely oneexample.

While module 102 is described above as a server module, module 102 couldalso be a data storage module (which may implement data storagefunctionality), a networking module (which may implement networkcommunication functionality), or any other type of module thatimplements any other type of functionality.

FIG. 2 shows an elevation of an example data center 200 (or a portion ofan example data center 200). Data center 200 comprises a plurality ofmodules 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, and 212. Although six modules 202-212are shown, data center 200 could have any number of modules. Modules202-212 could be server modules, such as module 102 shown in FIG. 1.However, modules 202-212 could be any types of modules to implement anytype of functionality, or could be a combination of different types ofmodules. For example, modules 202-206 might be server modules (orstorage modules, or network modules, etc.), and modules 208-212 might bepower modules (such as modules containing backup generators and/or UPSsto provide resistance to power service interruptions). (Although modulestypically provide some type of functionality, to distinguish servermodules from modules that provide other functionality, the descriptionherein sometimes refers to “server modules” (the modules that add servercapacity to the data center) and “function modules” (the modules thatadd various other capabilities like cooling, fire-protection, etc.).)

Data center 200 may also include a utility spine 214. Modules 202-212may be connected to utility spine 214, thereby connecting modules202-212 to each other and to the rest of data center 200. Utility spine214 may provide various services to the modules that are connected toutility spine 214. For example, utility spine 214 may contain mechanismsto provide power 216, data 218, chilled water 220, communication relatedto fire detection 222. Or, utility spine 214 could provide any othertypes of services. In order to provide power, utility spine 214 may haveone or more electrical cables, and several electrical interfaces toconnect those cables to modules 202-212. As another example, utilityspine 214 may have fiber to deliver data to modules 202-212. Utilityspine could contain similar conduits for optional cooling media and/orfire protection communication. Thus, modules 202-212 may receive power216, data 218, chilled water 220, communication related to firedetection 222, or other services, through utility spine 214.

Utility spine 214 may expose interfaces that allow modules 202-212 toconnect to the various services provided by utility spine 214. Utilityspine 214 may be extensible, so that utility spine 214 can become largeenough to accommodate whatever size and/or capabilities data center 200happens to have. For example, utility spine 214, as depicted in FIG. 2,is big enough to accommodate six modules 202-212. However, utility spine214 could, itself, be modularized so that it can be extended toaccommodate additional modules. Thus, utility spine 214 may be composedof several components, such as utility spine component 224. In order toextend utility spine 214 to allow it to accommodate additional modules,utility spine component 224 could be added to the existing utilityspine. In general, the subject matter herein provides for themodularization of data center functionality, and utility spine capacitymay be treated as simply one type of functionality that may be providedin the form of a module. In this way, utility spine capacity may beadded to a data center simply by adding a utility spine component 224.(Conversely, utility spine 214 could be reducible in order toaccommodate fewer modules. This reduction could be accomplished byremoval of some instances of utility spine component 224.)

As noted above, modules may be combined in various ways. The differentcombinations may be used to affect the quantitative or qualitativecapabilities of a data center. FIGS. 3-6 show various examplecombinations of modules that may be used to implement various types oramounts of data center functionality.

FIG. 3 shows a data center 300, which comprises a plurality of servermodules 302, 304, and 306, and an electric distribution module 308(which may all be connected by a utility spine, such as the one shown inFIG. 2). For example, it may have been determined that the amount ofcapacity that data center 300 is to supply can be provided with theamount of computing power offered by three server modules, and thatthese three server modules may be powered by electric distributionmodule 308. As noted above in connection with FIG. 1, a server modulemay include features such as cooling equipment, fire protectionequipment, etc., and thus, the configuration of data center 300 shown inFIG. 3 may be able to provide basic resistance to high temperatures andfire. However, one may wish to upgrade data center 300 by providingadditional capability. For example, the upgrade may give data center 300an additional level rating, by providing some resistance to electricalfailure.

Thus, in the example of FIG. 4, data center 300 has server modules302-306, plus Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) 402 (which may beconnected to server modules 302-306, for example, by way of the utilityspine shown in FIG. 2). UPS 402 may give data center 300 some resistanceto electrical failure by allowing data center 300 to operate for someamount of time in the event that power ceased to be supplied to datacenter 300. It is noted that, in accordance with the subject matterdescribed herein, UPS capacity is simply a feature that can bemodularized, and that can be added to or removed from a data center tomeet a particular (and possibly evolving) set of expectations for thatdata center. (Despite the term “uninterruptable power supply,” it ispossible that a UPS may cease to deliver power in situations such asbattery failure, etc. Thus, devices that cease to deliver power for somereason may still be considered UPSs.)

Similarly, data center 300's resistance to electrical failure may beupgraded, as shown in FIG. 5, by adding backup generator 502 to datacenter 300. Thus, in FIG. 5, data center 300 has server modules 302-306,UPS 402, and backup generator 502. Adding backup generator 502 to datacenter 300 may upgrade data center 300's resistance to electricalfailure, and may result in an increase to the level rating of datacenter 300. (Backup generator 502 may be connected to the othercomponents, for example, by the utility spine mentioned above.)

Finally, FIG. 6 shows, as an additional upgrade to data center 300, theaddition of extra cooling equipment. For example, cooling equipment 602,604, and 606 may be added to server modules 302, 304, and 306respectively, in order to allow server modules to operate at highertemperatures—perhaps as a result of applying more power to the serversin server modules 302-306, perhaps as a result of operating thoseservers in a hotter climate. Cooling equipment 602-606 could beself-contained modules, or could use some chilling medium provided(e.g., through a utility spine) by a central chiller plant module 608.Additionally, FIG. 6 shows an example in which there is one piece ofcooling equipment 602-606 for each of server modules 302-306, althoughthe ratio of cooling equipment to server modules could be other than oneto one. In accordance with the subject matter described herein, coolingis a function that may be modularized and added to a data center to meetsome set of specifications for that data center. (The specificationsmight define, for example, the functional features that would be a partof a data center that meets some level of reliability.) While some typesof functionality may be connected to a data center by attaching newcomponents to a utility spine, FIG. 6 shows that some functionality maybe added by attaching new modules to existing modules. For example, acooling module could be a box of cooling equipment (e.g., condensers,fans, etc.), and that box could be attached to each of the modules thatis to be cooled by the cooling equipment (server modules 302-306, inthis example).

In general, new modules may be connectable to a data center either byconnecting the new modules to a utility spine that serves the datacenter, or by connecting the new modules to other modules, or bothconnecting to the spine and another module. As shown in FIG. 7, a datacenter 700 may have a utility spine 214, and a plurality of modules 702,704, and 706 may be connected to that utility spine. The connections toutility spine 214 may be made through interfaces 708, 710, and 712,respectively, which may take any form.

Modules 714, 716, and 718 may be connectable to data center 700 byattaching them to existing modules 702-706 rather than by attaching themto utility spine 214. In general, the way to add a module depends on thetype of functionality that the module is to provide. For example, acooling module may operate by being in proximity to the component thatit is going to cool, so it makes sense to add a cooling module byattaching it to the module to be cooled rather than by attaching it to autility spine. Some cooling modules may also be connected to both acomponent being cooled as well as to a modular central cooling systemvia the utility spine. On the other hand, some types of electricalcomponents may work by adding capacity or backup capacity to severalcomponents of the data center and thus, to allow the power they provideto flow through the data center, these components may be connected tothe utility spine. However, the subject matter herein applies to modulesthat implement various functionalities, regardless of how or where thosemodules are connected to a data center.

FIG. 8 shows, in the form of a flow diagram, an example process (ormethod) in which components may be added (or removed) in order toincrease (or decrease) the functionality of a data center. In theexample of FIG. 8, data centers may meet specifications for variouslevels, and the addition (or subtraction) of functionality may take adata center up (or down) a level.

At 802, components are connected together in a data center, in order toimplement a data center at a particular level. For example, there mightbe specifications that define levels A, B, and C for data centers, and,at 802, the components may be connected so as to create a level A datacenter.

At 804, a process is initiated to increase the data center to a newlevel. For example, the owners of the data center may wish to upgrade itfrom a level A data center to a level B data center. Thus, at 805,components may be chosen or identified that would implement new featurescalled for by level B, but that the data center presently lacks (or thatthe data center lacks as much of as called for by the specification).E.g., level B might call for cooling capacity, and the data center, atpresent, might have no cooling capacity, or might have some coolingcapacity but not as much as the specification of level B calls for.Then, at 806, components are added to the data center in order to givethe data center the additional functionality that would upgrade itsrating from level A to level B. As discussed above, components may beadded to the data center by connecting those new components to a utilityspine that runs through the data center (at 808), or by connecting thenew components to existing components (at 810).

At 812, a decision may be made to decrease the data center to adifferent level. (This decision may be made after a prior increase inthe level; or it may be the case that there was no prior in increase inthe level, in which case 804-806 may not have occurred.) For example,after the data center has become a level B data center, it may bedetermined that a level A data center would suit the purposes of thedata center's owners. Thus, at 814, components may be removed from thedata center in order to remove functionalities associated with a level Bdata center. Once those components (and, therefore, the functionalitiesthat they implement) are removed from the data center, the data centeris downgraded to the previous level.

As the process of FIG. 8 demonstrates, modularization of functionalitiesinto distinct components, and the ability to add or take away thesefunctionalities, allows data centers to be upgraded and/or downgraded inorder to meet the particular performance and/or reliability standardthat the data center is expected to meet at a particular point in time.FIG. 9 shows some example specifications that may be met (or un-met) byupgrading (or downgrading) a data center's capacity.

FIG. 9 shows a specification 900 that defines three levels: A, B, and C.The specification for each level defines various types ofcharacteristics that a data center of that level would possess in orderto meet the standards for that level. Specifically, in the example ofFIG. 9, each level has specific parameters for its backup generatorcapacity, its UPS capacity, its cooling capacity, and its fireprotection capacity. These parameters may be different for the differentlevels (as indicated pictorially by the different numbers of hash-marksymbols for the various parameters at each level). As discussed above,functionality may be added or taken away through modules in order toallow a data center to meet the parameters specified for a particularlevel. The parameters shown in FIG. 9 are merely examples of parametersthat could be used to define the different levels. Other types ofparameters (e.g., data throughput, earthquake resistance, etc.) could beused to define the standards that define whether a data center qualifiesas being at a certain level.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A data center comprising: a component thatsupplies electrical power, data connectivity, and cooling media, andthat exposes a plurality of interfaces that are configured forconnecting one or more function modules to said component; a pluralityof server modules that are connected to the component through theinterfaces, each of said server modules comprising one or more racks ofservers, each of said server modules receiving said electric power, saiddata connectivity, and said cooling media through one of the pluralityof interfaces through which said individual server modules is connectedto said component; and one or more of said function modules, each of thefunction modules implementing a function that provides a capability tothe data center, each of the function modules being connected to thedata center by: (a) being attached to one of said server modules; or (b)being attached to another one of the function modules; or (c) beingattached to said component, said one or more function modules includingone or more first function modules and one or more second functionmodules, each of said first function modules comprising electrical wiresconfigured to carry said electrical power, data fiber configured tocarry said data connectivity, and conduits configured to carry saidcooling media, said component being composed of said one or more firstfunction modules, said component being extensible to accommodate anadditional number of said second function modules by addition of one ofsaid one or more of first function modules, and being reducible toaccommodate a fewer number of said second function modules by removal ofsaid one of said one or more first function modules.
 2. The data centerof claim 1, wherein one of said second function modules implements acooling function, said one of said second function modules beingattached to one of said server modules.
 3. The data center of claim 1,wherein one of said second function modules implements a fire protectionfunction.
 4. The data center of claim 1, wherein one of said secondfunction modules comprises a backup generator, said backup generatorbeing attached to said data center through said component.
 5. The datacenter of claim 1, wherein one of said second function modules comprisesan uninterruptable power supply.
 6. The data center of claim 1, whereineach of said server modules and said function modules are pre-fabricatedaway from a site at which said data center is located, wherein saidserver modules comprise shipping containers in which said one or moreracks of servers are installed.
 7. The data center of claim 1, wherein aspecification defines functional capabilities that are possessed by saiddata center that meets a reliability level, and wherein said functionmodules are chosen to allow said data center to satisfy saidspecification.
 8. The data center of claim 1, each of said one or morefirst function modules comprising a fire detection communication line.9. An apparatus comprising: a component that supplies electrical power,data connectivity, and cooling media, and that exposes a plurality ofinterfaces through which one or more function modules are connectable tosaid component; a plurality of server modules that are connected to thecomponent through the interfaces, each of said server modules comprisingone or more racks of servers, each of said server modules receiving saidelectric power, said data connectivity, and said cooling media throughone of the plurality of interfaces through which said individual servermodules is connected to said component; and one or more of said functionmodules, each of the function modules implementing a function thatprovides a capability to the apparatus, each of said one or more saidfunction modules comprising: one or more first function modules and oneor more second function modules, said component being composed of saidone or more first function modules, each of said one or more firstfunction modules comprising electrical wires configured to carry saidelectrical power, data fiber configured to carry said data connectivity,and conduits configured to carry said cooling media, said componentbeing extensible to accommodate an additional number of said secondfunction modules by addition of one of said one or more first functionmodules, and being reducible to accommodate a fewer number of saidsecond function modules by removal of one of said one or more firstfunction modules; and a cooling module for cooling said cooling mediaprovided to said conduits, the cooling module being one of the secondfunction modules.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, each of said one or morefunction modules comprising a separate shipping container.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein one of said second function modulescomprises a backup generator, said backup generator being attached tosaid apparatus through said component.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein one of said second function modules comprises an uninterruptablepower supply.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each of said servermodules and said function modules are pre-fabricated away from a site atwhich said apparatus is located.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, saidapparatus comprising a data center.
 15. A system comprising: a componentthat supplies electrical power, data connectivity, and cooling media,and that exposes a plurality of interfaces through which one or morefunction modules are connectable to said component, said plurality offunction modules including one or more first function modules and one ormore second function modules, said component being composed of said oneor more first function modules, each of said first function modulescomprising electrical wires configured to carry said electrical power,data fiber configured to carry said data connectivity, and conduitsconfigured to carry said cooling media, said component being extensibleto accommodate an additional number of said second function modules byaddition of one of said one or more first function modules, and beingreducible to accommodate a fewer number of said second function modulesby removal of said one of said one of more first function modules, saidcomponent being connected to one or more server modules that containservers and that receive said electrical power, said data connectivity,and said cooling media through one of the plurality of interfacesthrough which each of the one or more server modules is connected tosaid component.
 16. The system of claim 15, each of said functionmodules comprising a separate shipping container.
 17. The system ofclaim 15, further comprising: one of said second function modulescomprises a backup generator, said backup generator being attached tosaid system through said component.
 18. The system of claim 15, whereineach of said one or more server modules and said function modules arepre-fabricated away from a site at which said system is located.
 19. Thesystem of claim 15, said system comprising a data center.
 20. The systemof claim 15, each of said one or more first function modules comprisinga fire detection communication line.